Plane returns to Los Angeles after fight between passengers

Published 6:00 am, Monday, October 19, 2015

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southwest Airlines says a jetliner on its way to San Francisco returned to Los Angeles International Airport after a fight between two passengers.

Spokeswoman Melissa Ford tells The Associated Press that FBI agents met the plane at the gate and that one person was removed Sunday night.

Ford says the pilot decided to return to LAX because of a "rapidly escalating" situation that culminated in a physical altercation. She did not elaborate but said the two passengers involved weren't traveling together.

It wasn't immediately clear if the passenger who was removed from the flight was arrested. A message seeking additional details from the FBI was not immediately returned Monday.

Ford says the remaining 136 passengers switched planes and arrived at San Francisco International Airport about five hours behind schedule.